Utahime finally laid eyes on the legendary King of Curses.
"Pfft."
And instantly, her expectations shattered into a million pieces.
"Pffft-haha."
Utahime stared at him deadpan, speaking with utter flatness. "If you want to laugh, just laugh."
"Pfft-HAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Mahito absolutely lost his mind laughing.
Utahime gritted her teeth in pure annoyance.
Because the Lord of Cursed Spirits had single-handedly annihilated the Zen'in clan, any self-respecting Jujutsu Sorcerer had meticulously researched every available detail of that battle. Utahime was no exception. In fact, she was exceptionally lucky in that regard. Despite constantly bickering with Satoru Gojo, the two trusted each other implicitly, which meant Utahime had access to far more classified intel than the average sorcerer.
Others merely knew that the Lord of Cursed Spirits was unfathomably terrifying, a paragon of cruel tyranny. But Utahime knew that the Zen'in clan had actively brought that destruction upon themselves.
Quite the opposite to the public narrative, the Lord of Cursed Spirits' image in her mind was surprisingly honorable. He had suffered immense humiliation at their hands, yet he hadn't resorted to a sadistic, torture-filled massacre for revenge.
On that stormy night, the Lord of Cursed Spirits had arrived entirely alone. Every surviving elder and weakling of the Zen'in clan heard his thundering self-introduction, echoing like the roar of a god. He was like a lone samurai storming an entire faction's stronghold—elegant, unyielding, and impeccably stylish.
And he did indeed possess the honor of an ancient warrior. He spared the elderly and the weak, leaving the Zen'in clan with the seeds to rebuild.
But looking at him now...
"Pfft-hehe, hehehehehe." Mahito couldn't stop snickering. He was dressed in a completely ordinary white button-down shirt and dark slacks. He was barefoot. His white hair cascaded over his shoulders, looking slightly unkempt and messy from a lack of styling. He was currently sitting on a traditional cushion, rudely crossing one leg over the other with his knee propped up. He looked exactly like a completely average college student lounging haphazardly on his tatami mat at home.
If Utahime hadn't confirmed his identity through the sheer, reverent reactions of everyone else in the room, she genuinely might have mistaken him for some greenhorn university kid. There wasn't a single trace of ominous gloom or sinister malice radiating from him. Forget "solemn majesty"; she could actually sense a distinct aura of naive innocence and youthfulness.
*Damn it all!* Utahime genuinely felt she was losing her mind. Seeing 'naive innocence' radiating from the King of Curses!
Yet, Utahime felt an incredibly familiar, intensely aggravating sensation. *Damn it, isn't this exactly like Satoru Gojo?! This guy is literally just the Cursed Spirit version of Gojo!* Her terrifying expectations were well and truly shattered.
Utahime spoke sullenly, "If you're going to kill me or torture me, just get on with it."
Mahito had to adjust his breathing several times to forcefully suppress his laughter. The sheer comedic timing of the situation was too perfect. A prestigious, dignified teacher from Kyoto Jujutsu High, captured as a prisoner of war by a rookie intelligent Cursed Spirit on patrol... and she had actively offered herself up to be captured, no less.
Mahito genuinely hadn't dreamed something this absurd would happen.
"Master, this Jujutsu Sorcerer wishes to understand our ideals, so I took the liberty of bringing her before you," Sha reported strictly and formally. She was kneeling impeccably by Mahito's side. On his other side knelt Hane-kaede, equally proper. Utahime was seated directly opposite them. Beside Utahime was Granny Ogami, listening with keen interest, and behind them sat the young man.
There were six people in the reception room, yet it didn't feel crowded in the slightest. Each person had a low table in front of them, sitting comfortably on plush cushions.
"You want to know our ideals?" Mahito asked, visibly intrigued.
Utahime was currently operating entirely on a 'nothing left to lose' mentality. Perhaps the Cursed Spirit girl didn't intend to kill her, but she clearly wasn't the one calling the shots. A subordinate within an organization could afford to be naive and airheaded, but the supreme leader of that faction absolutely could not.
Unfortunately, the man who was 'absolutely not' naive was sitting right in front of her.
Utahime spoke with a heavy, serious tone, "Anyone in the Jujutsu world would want to know."
"Overthrow Jujutsu society, become God," Mahito replied with a flippant, dismissive tone. "I figured you could have guessed that much."
"Of course we guessed that. What we cannot guess are your true underlying motives," Utahime asked boldly and directly. "The second we learned of the existence of intelligent Cursed Spirits, we already deduced your goal was to overthrow the Jujutsu world, and 'becoming God' was factored into those predictions. But those are merely ambitions, not an ideal. I want to know your true, fundamental ideal."
It was an incredibly sharp, well-phrased question.
Mahito's flippant expression dialed back a notch. "That question shouldn't be coming out of your mouth. I was under the impression you held limitless, unshakable faith in Satoru Gojo. I assumed that no matter what kind of overwhelming power I displayed, it could never shake the image of an invincible Gojo in your heart."
Because asking a question like that sounded exactly like she was actively preparing for a future where Satoru Gojo failed, and Cursed Spirits truly ruled the world.
"I do possess absolute faith in Gojo," Utahime stated frankly. "But that does not conflict with my desire to understand you better. Those two things are not mutually exclusive."
*No, they are highly mutually exclusive. Because if we were truly just insignificant pawns doomed to fail, you wouldn't give a damn about our ideals.*
*The fact that you are so deeply invested in our motives proves that, on some level, you've already foreseen the very real possibility of Gojo's defeat.*
It seemed the annihilation of the Zen'in clan had struck the Jujutsu world's sensitive nerves far harder than anticipated. Word of Yuki Tsukumo's defeat hadn't even spread yet. Mahito was certain that once that news broke, a massive wave of Jujutsu defectors would actively come knocking on his door.
No matter how overwhelmingly powerful Yuki Tsukumo was—powerful enough to theoretically sink the entire Japanese archipelago with a single punch—she still had to walk on her own two feet, she still had to board a commercial flight to return to Japan. Mahito was fundamentally different. With a single drop of a curtain, he could instantly teleport back to Japan. The concept of 'travel time' simply didn't apply to him.
*Ui Ui's teleportation technique is just so incredibly busted.*
Mahito looked at Utahime. Utahime met his gaze directly with a fierce, unyielding glare, not backing down an inch. Suddenly, Mahito asked, "Do you believe in destiny?"
Utahime frowned. "You aren't about to start spouting some garbage about being the 'born King', are you?"
"You should believe in destiny. All sorcerers should," Mahito said plainly. "This country boasts a population exceeding 126 million. Yet, the number of Jujutsu Sorcerers numbers less than ten thousand. And among those ten thousand, those possessing an Innate Technique number less than a thousand. Have you ever stopped to wonder why you happen to be one of them?"
Utahime was intimately familiar with this exact argument.
She let out a mocking sneer. "That is the exact rhetoric spouted by the traditionalist faction of the Jujutsu world. I understand it far better than you do."
"'Jujutsu Sorcerers are inherently superior beings. Sorcerers possessing overwhelming power are destined by birthright to rule the world. This is not a matter of whether a sorcerer desires it; it is an absolute necessity. Because if those wielding immense power do not occupy the highest seats, allowing mediocre fools to rule will only usher in catastrophe and ruin.'"
Utahime glared at the impassive Mahito, her mockery intensifying:
"Using that kind of manipulative rhetoric to brainwash the masses might work on others, but I am a teacher at Kyoto Jujutsu High! Of course I know the sheer scale of the disasters that occur when powerful individuals refuse to lead. Based purely on historical empiricism, that statement is factually accurate—"
"—But it is still nothing more than brainwashing bullshit!"
Utahime's voice boomed through the room. There wasn't a single shred of cowardice or fear in her eyes. She glared directly at Mahito, unleashing an overwhelmingly majestic, commanding aura. "Modern society is a hyper-precise, intricately interwoven clockwork structure. It is physically impossible for any single individual to isolate themselves from the rest."
"The clothes you are wearing right now, the food you eat, even the very building you are sitting in. Every single one of these amenities is absolutely dependent on the blood, sweat, and labor of tailors, farmers, and factory workers."
"In ancient times, an immensely powerful hermit only needed to throw on a straw raincoat, sit by the river, and catch a few fish to eat a sweet, satisfying meal. They were perfectly content. Even if a powerful Daimyo came begging for their services, they could afford to scoff in disdain."
"But if you take that exact same hermit, feed them modern cuisine, let them get used to the convenience of a smartphone, and let them experience the bliss of air conditioning during a blistering summer? I swear to God, no matter how 'zen' or detached that hermit's state of mind is, they will be utterly conquered by modern society."
"Yet, that hermit is biologically incapable of producing a single one of those modern luxuries by themselves. They are entirely reliant on the smooth operation of modern society."
"Therefore, as powerful Jujutsu Sorcerers, protecting normal humans and normal society is not merely an obligation; it is the absolute, most fundamentally righteous thing we can do. It is not just an issue of morality. It is about aggressively safeguarding our own quality of life. It is about protecting our own homes."
Despite sitting there as a prisoner of war, Utahime's voice was as resolute as a hardened frontline commander's. She bored her eyes into Mahito's heterochromatic gaze, looking exactly like a stern, unyielding teacher fiercely disciplining a hopelessly misguided student:
"And why does modern society possess such overwhelming, irresistible charm?"
"Because of knowledge! Because of culture! Because of sheer population!"
"A robust industrial supply chain requires cutting-edge knowledge. A rich entertainment industry demands generations of cultural inheritance. And every single one of those things can only be achieved by a massive, booming population!"
Utahime let out a cold laugh:
"Just as you said yourself, how many Jujutsu Sorcerers are there? Can a few thousand people manage an entire global supply chain?"
"Only normal people! Only a massive population of ordinary humans can accomplish that! Going out to till the fields! Harvesting the crops! Hauling in the fish! Processing the materials! Transporting the goods! Slaving away in a kitchen! Until finally, a chef places your favorite dish perfectly on your table!"
"Out of that entire, agonizingly long chain of manual labor, which 'immensely powerful sorcerer' is going to step up and willingly perform those tasks?!"
"Even if they *could* do it, they absolutely *wouldn't*!"
"There are countless sorcerers who decide the Jujutsu world is far too dangerous, and the moment they graduate, they immediately integrate back into normal society to live as ordinary people. Yet, within a few short years, a massive portion of them come crawling right back to the Jujutsu world. Why?"
"Because they are completely incapable of enduring the agonizing boredom of living the rest of their lives as a mindless cog in the societal machine!"
Utahime's voice grew louder, echoing with booming authority. The flippant amusement had completely vanished from Mahito's face. He made no attempt to interrupt her lecture, choosing instead to listen in absolute silence.
Utahime ruthlessly tore into him.
"Take you, for example. Do you understand sociology? Do you understand economic management? Are you capable of equitably distributing global resources? Do you even possess the basic interpersonal skills required to navigate international diplomacy, you so-called 'born King'?"
"If sorcerers genuinely possessed those capabilities, why do you think the Jujutsu Headquarters hasn't directly overthrown the Japanese government and seized public control, instead choosing to cower in the shadows playing 'Lords of the Night'? Is it because they don't want to?"
"It's because they *can't*!"
"Those 'power-supremacists' who constantly preach that the strong must rule from on high? In reality, they understand better than anyone else that raw, destructive power cannot solve every problem in the world! They want a comfortable environment. They want delicious food. They want beautiful, dignified clothing."
"And every single one of those desires can *only* be fulfilled by the monumental labor of the ordinary human masses."
"'Raw power makes you a born King'?"
"Don't make me laugh!"
Mahito had to admit, he was genuinely shocked.
To hear a denizen of the Jujutsu world so passionately, logically venerate the functions of modern society was something he hadn't thought possible. After all, Yuki Tsukumo had once argued in the death space that an individual possessing the power to flatten the world could never truly stand on equal footing with normal humans.
In reality, both perspectives were completely correct. Jujutsu Sorcerers could not survive without ordinary humans, and ordinary humans desperately needed the protection of Jujutsu Sorcerers. The two groups were never meant to be separated; they had to be integrated as a cohesive whole.
No wonder Satoru Gojo, the ultimate rebel of the Jujutsu world, so desperately sought fairness and justice. His goals weren't born of naive idealism or delusions; they were firmly rooted in hard, pragmatic sociological theory.
Mahito began clapping loudly, his praise utterly genuine. "As expected of a teacher. That was magnificently said."
He turned his head toward the Cursed Spirit girl and Hane-kaede, instructing them seriously, "Although her original intent was to mock me, her words are absolute, fundamental truth. They are words you should engrave into your souls for the rest of your lives. If we wish to enjoy the offerings and comforts provided by ordinary humans, we must provide them with absolute protection in return. The exact same logic applies to us."
Sha and Hane-kaede nodded solemnly in unison. "Yes, Master!"
Mahito then looked over at Granny Ogami, smiling. "This is exactly why I said that if Sha killed you, I would absolutely not punish her. She would have been entirely in the right! When there is no other option, it is only natural for a Curse User to kill to survive. But when a choice is freely given, and a Curse User *still* chooses to murder, I wouldn't utter a single word of complaint no matter how many Sha butchered."
"Just as Ms. Iori stated, those who wield power are inherently obligated to protect the weak. This isn't some abstract moral dilemma; it directly impacts our tangible quality of life. We should be more aggressively invested in safeguarding our own 'garden' than anyone else."
"This is the exact reason I educate my creations to protect humanity."
Granny Ogami's expression didn't shift in the slightest. She chuckled dryly, "And is that not exactly why this old woman came seeking you out? This old woman also wishes to break free from the innate nature of a Curse User."
*To actually take a Jujutsu teacher's furious mockery and seamlessly repurpose it as positive educational material for Cursed Spirits?! What kind of upside-down reality, academic anarchy is this?!* Utahime ground her teeth so hard they audibly creaked.
Mahito's expression turned serious. "I apologize, Ms. Iori. I must admit that I grossly misjudged you earlier. That was my mistake. Because the circumstances of your arrival before me were rather... undignified, I fell victim to empirical bias."
*Undignified doesn't even begin to cover it.* Utahime felt numb.
Mahito continued, "Let us return to the previous topic. You've likely heard the rhetoric I opened with endlessly from the traditionalists in the Jujutsu world, which explains your impatience. I completely understand your utter disdain for that kind of brainwashing narrative. However, you misunderstood my meaning entirely."
Utahime frowned. "What?"
"Destiny is a tangible, real phenomenon," Mahito stated solemnly.
"Are you still trying to claim you're a born King, destined to rule the world?" Utahime looked genuinely confused. "But you literally just agreed with my argument, and even used it to lecture your intelligent Cursed Spirits. Why are you immediately contradicting yourself?"
"From the very beginning, I never once claimed that *I* was a born King," Mahito replied, his voice laden with profound meaning. "I was talking about the concept of *destiny*."
This topic had completely exceeded her wildest expectations, and she realized she had fundamentally misunderstood Mahito's point.
She was already his prisoner. The King of Curses had zero logical reason to lie to her. This meant there was a genuine, terrifying truth hidden here that she was completely ignorant of.
She shifted her posture, sitting in a flawless, formal *seiza* on the cushion, her expression dead serious. "I am listening."
Mahito glanced at Granny Ogami, smiling. "This directly concerns the mechanics of your imminent reincarnation. I will explain the fundamental principles behind it now, so you can undergo the process with peace of mind."
*This actually involves literal reincarnation?!* Utahime's spirit jolted with intense focus.
Granny Ogami bowed her head respectfully. "This old woman has heard rumors that the King of Curses thoroughly explained the underlying mechanics of immortality to Mei Mei, completely dispelling all her doubts. The facts have proven your immaculate credibility. Whether you choose to explain the details or not, this old woman trusts you completely."
This was the critical reason Granny Ogami had willingly walked into the lion's den.
She was a Curse User, and Mahito was a Cursed Spirit. In theory, establishing a baseline of trust between them was an absolute impossibility. But the King of Curses had actively shattered that barrier of distrust. He had proactively contacted Mei Mei and, keeping his word flawlessly, disclosed all his secrets to her. Even though the information was practically impossible for anyone else to replicate, the sheer act of absolute transparency cemented Mahito's impeccable reputation.
Mei Mei was a Jujutsu Sorcerer! If Mahito wouldn't even deceive his sworn enemies, he had absolutely no reason to deceive his primary demographic: Curse Users. Consequently, Mahito's credibility within the Curse User underworld was practically divine.
Furthermore, the objective of his experiment involved literal reincarnation. As an ancient, withered Curse User already standing with one foot in the grave, it was impossible for her not to be deeply intrigued.
Moreover, even if she couldn't reap the miraculous benefits of reincarnation, wasn't immortality at least on the table?
Kinji Hakari had achieved immortality, and he was a Jujutsu Sorcerer! Compared to a sorcerer, shouldn't the King of Curses be far more willing to trust a Curse User? Given that logic, why shouldn't she hold out hope?
"Let me start directly with the conclusion." Mahito took a deep breath, his tone ringing with absolute gravity. "Within the final resting place of souls in this world... I discovered the undeniable traces of an alternate world."
"Destiny truly exists. It is not an illusion; it is a tangible, concrete reality—and I found the absolute proof within the soul's resting place!"
***